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When you first enter or are in the business world, you must know how to dress appropriately for any given situation. What you wear for an interview or career fair is likely to differ from your day-to-day business attire. If you are a small business owner, speak to your employees about your expectations on the type of attire that they should wear while at work. Most businesses provide their employees with dress code policies to give guidance on what type of clothing is allowed and prohibited on professional and casual dress days.

Business Formal Attire

When you dress in business formal attire, you are dressing to impress. Business formal attire is an upgrade from your normal day-to-day professional outfits. Dressy evening events and award ceremonies may call for business formal dress. Men wear a dark colored suit over a dress shirt with a silk tie.

The shirt should be a French cut style and cufflinks can be worn. Silk or linen pocket squares are also a requirement for men. Dress shoes and matching dark pants complete the outfit. Formal business attire for women is a suit with a skirt while wearing pantyhose and closed toe pumps.

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Business Professional Attire

When you dress in business professional attire, you are wearing generally conservative clothing to portray yourself in a professional manner. Business professional is similar to business formal, but does not necessarily mean you have to break out your best shoes and suit. Careers that may require business professional dress on a daily basis include finance, accounting and organizations that have a strict dress code policy.

Women can wear a skirt or pants suit with heels while men may wear a blazer or suit jacket, button down shirt, suit pants, a tie and dress shoes.

Business Casual Attire

When the dress code for your company is business casual, it means you do not need to wear a suit. However, it does not call for casual attire such as jeans and T-shirts. Women typically wear a collared shirt or sweater with dress pants and dress shoes or boots. Conservative dresses and skirts are also acceptable attire.

A man’s option for business casual includes a polo shirt, collared shirt or sweater. Khaki or dress pants along with dress shoes make up his business casual outfit. He does not need to wear a tie.

Small Business Casual

If your small business office has a casual dress code, you need to specify what is acceptable for staff to wear. Casual does not mean sloppy or inappropriate clothing pieces. Avoid stained or wrinkled clothing and overly revealing or offensive attire. Examples of acceptable clothing pieces include well-tailored jeans, khaki pants, button-down shirts and casual blouses.

Instead of women having to wear heels, they can be comfortable in flats. If you work in a private office or salon, there may be even less stringent with your dress code policies allowing T-shirts and sneakers; however, always be neat and think about how you appear to customers.

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About the Author

Heather Topham Wood is a seasoned writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including USA Today, Gadgetell, Feel Rich and Step in Style. Heather is a published novelist with six Amazon bestsellers and a contract through Crescent Moon Press. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from TCNJ.